Apparatus for isolating vibrations

ABSTRACT

A vibration isolation mount comprising a load-supporting means mounted on an inflatable air chamber and means for controlling the pressure automatically within the chamber to maintain the load-supporting means at a constant level. Limit means is provided to prevent excessive movement of the load-supporting means and consequent damage to the assembly upon deflation of the air chamber.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Herbert F. Hackbarth Worthington;

Arthur E. Reams, Columbus, both of, Ohio 805,675

Mar. 10, 1969 June I, 1971 Consolidated Kinetics Corporation Columbus, Ohio [21 Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54] APPARATUS FOR ISOLATING VIBRATIONS 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

52 us. Cl 248/20, 248/350, 267/124 [51] Int. Cl F16f 15/04, F16f 11/00 [50] Field of Search 248/20,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,439,937 4/1948 Krob 248/F.D. 2,664,257 12/1953 McNally 248/358X 2,965,372 12/1960 Cavanaugh 267/126 Primary Examiner-Edward C. Allen Assistant Examiner-William H. Schultz Attorney-Schmieding and Fultz ABSTRACT: A vibration isolation mount comprising a loadsupporting means mounted on an inflatable air chamber and means for controlling the pressure automatically within the chamber to maintain the load-supporting means at a constant level. Limit means is provided to prevent excessive movement of the load-supporting means and consequent damage to the assembly upon deflation of the air chamber.

PATENTEDJUN Ham 3582.027

SHEET 1 0F 3 FIG. 2 INVENTOR.

HERBERT F- l/fit'KMKTH BY 0171004 F. REA/91$ ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUN Hen 3,582,027

F l G. 3 INVENTOR.

HERBERT ['7 film 01" H ATTORNEYS PATENIEB JUN 1l97| 335821027 "(ea LiVENTQR.

ERT K M60?! JM'gM ATTORNEYS automaticallyiadmittingand releasing pressurized airto and from said air chamber so as to precisely maintain a constant height dimension between said'base meansand said load-supporting means. .Hence the air control means functionsto accurately maintain the levelof the supported load with respect to the supporting environment.

In accordance with the present invention the isolation mount comprises a novel arrangement of thepreviously mentioned air chamber and load-supporting means whereby the sidewalls of the latter extend downwardly along the outer wall of the air chamber in spaced protective relationship therewith and with the load-supporting sidewalls including a lower edge normally spaced from said base means when said chamber is normally inflated, and 'supportedly engaged by said base means upon deflation of said air chamber. This permits the load-supporting means to safely bottom thereby preventing damage to the mount or sensitive equipment supported thereon. As another aspect of the present invention the vibration isolation mount is provided with novel damping means for controlling horizontal vibrations, said damping means being operative between the air chambersidewall and the load-supporting-sidewall. Such damping means preferably comprises vertically extendingelastomeric strips disposed between said sidewalls in frictional engagement therewith.

It is another aspect of thepresent invention to provide an air mount of the type described that includes an air chamber and a load-supporting means provided with a sidewall surrounding said chamber such that the horizontal springrate of the device can be controlled by controlling the space in between the resilient sidewall of the air chamber and the surrounding sidewall of the load-supporting means.

As another aspect of the present invention the vibration isolation mount is provided with an integral air control-means, a first portion of which is mounted on the above-mentioned base means and a second portionof which is mounted on the above-mentioned sidewall of the load-supporting means. Hence, the sidewall of the load-supporting means provides the dual function of preventingexcessive vertical compression of the air chamber in the event of loss of air therefrom andalso functions as a mounting means for a portion of the air control means.

As still another aspect of the present invention, the vibration isolation mountis provided with integrally fabricated air control means that cooperates with a specifically designed base means such that the conduits for theflow of air between the control meansand the air chamber are mounted within and protected by said base means.

It is therefore an-object of the present invention to provide a vibration isolation mount that includes a load-supporting means provided with an exterior sidewall that functions to preventexcessive vertical displacement of supported equipment in the case of accidental loss of-air.

It is another object of the present invention :to providean improved vibration isolation mount wherein the horizontal spring rate can be accuratelycontrolled so as to provide the maximum in horizontal stability.

' It is another object of the present invention toprovide an improved vibration isolationmount wherein frictional ,damping is provided between a controlledresilient air-chamber and a surrounding load-supporting means.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a vibration isolationmount that includes a resilientIair chamber and a load-supporting means that, also forms an exterior cylindrical wall that functions to prevent damage to the air chamber from moving equipment, hot metal chips, acids and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved vibration-isolation'mount and system that is adapted tosafely bottom in the event of leakage or overload without subjecting the sensitive control portion of the apparatus to damaging stresses.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved vibration isolation mount and system that includes'a novel housing portion that functions as a guide for movable components of the apparatus as well as a protective movable cover for the main body portion of the apparatus.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred forms of embodiments of the invention are clearly shown.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of a vibration isolation mount constructed in accordance-with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a vibration isolation mount constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of a vibration isolation mount constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the vibration isolation mount of the present invention, with the section being taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a top sectional view of the vibration isolation mount of the present invention, with the section being taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1-5 illustrate an isolation mount constructed in accordance with the present invention that includes a base means indicated generally at 10 and a load-supporting means indicated generally at 12, the latter including a load-supporting sidewall 16 and a load-supporting top wall 18.

A flexible air chamber 20, FIG. 4, resiliently movably supports load-supporting means 12 on base means 10 and includes a flexible chamberwall 22 formed of-synthetic rubber, or the like, top wall 19, and a bottom wall 21 including a threaded fitting forming a chamber port 64.

Top wall 18 of load-supporting means 12 is secured to top wall 19 of the air chamber by a plurality of screws 17. The bottom wall 21 of air chamber 20 is secured to the top wall of base means 10 in the same manner.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, a clearance space 35 is provided between sidewall 22 of the air chamber 20 and sidewall 16 of load-supporting means 12. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention such clearance space 35 can be established soar: to control the horizontal spring-rate between the exterior load-supporting wall 16 and the chamber wall 22, under horizontally imposed forces or vibrations.

As another .aspect of the present invention, a plurality of resilient strips 3 are positioned in compressed relationship between the sidewalls 16 and 22 so as to provide frictional damping between load-supporting means 12 and air chamber 20. A

Strips 23 are preferably formed of cellular or solid elastomeric material such as neoprene or thelike.

With reference to FIG. 4, an air controller indicated generally at 30 includes a body member 32 rigidly mounted on base means 10 that includes a passage or conduit 50 provided .with an air discharge port or orifice 52 for controlling the release of pressurized air from the system when load-supporting means 12 tends to depart from a predetermined level in a manner later to be described.

With continued reference to FIG. 4 passage 50 includes inlet port 60 that communicates with a source of pressurized air, not illustrated, via a line 24, and a third port 60 that communicates with air chamber 20 via a line 26. An adjustable flow restrictor means 56, preferably in the form of a threaded needle valve and seat, is provided in passage 50 for. controlling the flow rate in line 26-connecting air chamber 26 with air discharge orifice 52 and the above-mentioned source of pressurized fluid.

Referring again to FIG. 4, air controller 30 further includes a housing means 34 including an upper portion provided with a base forming a guide for a vertically slidable air control member 36, the latter being keyed against rotation in said bore by a key element 46 extended into a vertical slot 48.

Air control member 36 is free to move vertically upwardly and is vertically adjusted in its bore by a threaded element 40 disposed in threaded hole 42 and provided with a manual adjusting knob 38, said knob serving as an adjustable stop that limits the downward movement of said air control member.

As seen in FIG. 4, air control member 36 includes a lower surface 54 that abuts the previously mentioned air discharge port 52 in the top of body member 32 and serves to control the volumetric flow rate of air discharged from said port.

The housing means 34, FIG. 4, further includes a lower skirt portion that forms a protective cover for body member 32 and air discharge port 52, with a slot 58 being provided in said skirt portion to permit access to flow restrictor 56.

In operation of the basic mount structure the resilient wall 22 of the air chamber is used in cooperation with the rigid sidewall 16 of the load-supporting means 12 and the spacing or compressed contact between the walls 16 and 22 to control the horizontal spring rate of the isolation mount to most effectively control the horizontal stability of the system.

Also, the use of the partially compressed elastomeric strips 23 is used to provide controlled frictional damping for the isolation of vertically imposed vibrations.

Moreover, both these concepts can be used and established to most effectively provide both the above-described novel results.

In operation of the air controller, the height of the air control mount of FIGS. 14 is adjusted by rotating adjusting knob 38 and thereby raise or lower air control member 36 and the lower surface 54 thereof relative to the stationary body member 32. Such adjustment will in effect raise or lower the vertical position of load-supporting means 12 with respect to base means since the upwardly exerted force from air chamber will reach an equilibrium with the airflow bleed at air discharge port 52 thereby causing the surface 54 on air control member 36 to always ride at a threshold position in abutting relationship with air discharge port 52.

In the event that an air leak should occur in the wall of air chamber 20, and the load being supported would cause loadsupporting means 12 to bottom then housing 34 of the relatively sensitive air controller can move freely downwardly and bottom without imposing any damaging stresses on the structural elements ofthe air controller.

We claim:

1. A vibration isolation mount comprising, in combination, a base means; an inflatable air chamber supported on said base means; load-supporting means supported by said air chamber and ncluding a load-supporting sidewall extended downwardly in protective relation with said air chamber and an air controller including an upper member mounted on said load-supporting sidewall and a lower member mounted on said base means and provided with first and second ports, said first port being connected to a source of air pressure and said second port being connected to said air chamber, said ports communicating within said air controller; and means within said air controller responsive to the vertical position of the load-supporting means to bleed air continuously from the system to vary the admission and release of air to the air chamber to maintain a constant level of the load-supporting means with respect to the base means.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said load-supporting sidewall includes a lower edge normally spaced from said base means when said chamber is normally inflated and supportedly engaged by said base means upon deflation of said air chamber.

3. A vibration isolation mount comprising, in combination, a base means; an inflatable air chamber supported on said base means; load-supporting means supported by said air chamber and including a load-supporting sidewall extended downwardly in protective relation with said air chamber, said load-supporting sidewall including a lower edge normally spaced from said base means when said chamber is normally inflated and supportedly engaged by said base means upon deflation of said air chamber; an air controller including an upper member mounted on said load-supporting sidewall and a lower member mounted on said base top wall and provided with first and second ports, said first port being connected to said air chamber, said ports connecting within said air controller; and means within said air controller responsive to the vertical position of the load-supporting means to bleed air continuously from the system to vary the admission and release of air to the air chamber to maintain a constant level of the load-supporting means with respect to the base means.

4. A vibration isolation mount comprising, in combination, a base means; an inflatable air chamber supported on said base means; load-supporting means supported by said air chamber and including a load-supporting sidewall extended downwardly in protective relation with said air chamber, and an air controller including an upper member mounted on said load-supporting sidewall and a lower member mounted on said base means and provided with first and second ports, said first port being connected to said air chamber, said ports connecting within said air controller; and means within said air controller responsive to the vertical position of the load-supporting means to bleed air continuously from the system to vary the admission and release of air to the air chamber to maintain a constant level of the load-supporting means with respect to the base means and damping means operative between said chamber sidewall and said load-supporting sidewall.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said load-supporting sidewall includes a lower edge normally spaced from said base means when said chamber is normally inflated and supportedly engaged by said base means upon deflation of said air chamber.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said damping means comprises a vertically extending guide disposed between said sidewalls.

7. A vibration isolation mount comprising, in combination, a base means; an inflatable air chamber supported on said base means; load-supporting means supported by said air chamber and including a load-supporting sidewall extended downwardly in protective relation with said air chamber, said load-supporting sidewall including a lower edge normally spaced from said base means when said chamber is normally inflated and supportedly engaged by said base means upon deflation of said air chamber; an air controller including an upper member mounted on said load-supporting sidewall and a lower member mounted on said base means and provided with first and second ports, said first port being connected to a source of air pressure and said second port being connected to said air chamber, said ports communicating within said air controller and means within said air controller responsive to the vertical position of the load-supporting means to bleed air continuously from the system to vary the admission and release of air to the air chamber to maintain a constant level of the load-supporting means with respect to the base means; and damping means operative between said chamber sidewall and said load-supporting sidewall.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said damping means comprises a vertically extending guide disposed between said sidewalls.

A vibration isolation mount comprising, in combination, base means; an inflatable air chamber supported on said base means; load-supporting means supported by said air chamber and including a load-supporting sidewall extended downwardly in protective relationship with said air chamber and engageable with said base means upon deflation of said air chamber; an air controller communicating with said air chamber and mounted on one of said means and operatively associated with the other of said means; means for supplying air continuously to the air controller; and means including an mounted on one of said means and operatively associated with the other of said means; means for continuously supplying air to the air controller and means within said air controller to bleed air continuously from the system at a variable rate responsive to the vertical position of the load-supporting means including confronting air releasing members which are normally biased away from physical contact by the flow of air bleeding from the system. 

1. A vibration isolation mount comprising, in combination, A base means; an inflatable air chamber supported on said base means; load-supporting means supported by said air chamber and including a load-supporting sidewall extended downwardly in protective relation with said air chamber and an air controller including an upper member mounted on said load-supporting sidewall and a lower member mounted on said base means and provided with first and second ports, said first port being connected to a source of air pressure and said second port being connected to said air chamber, said ports communicating within said air controller; and means within said air controller responsive to the vertical position of the load-supporting means to bleed air continuously from the system to vary the admission and release of air to the air chamber to maintain a constant level of the load-supporting means with respect to the base means.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said load-supporting sidewall includes a lower edge normally spaced from said base means when said chamber is normally inflated and supportedly engaged by said base means upon deflation of said air chamber.
 3. A vibration isolation mount comprising, in combination, a base means; an inflatable air chamber supported on said base means; load-supporting means supported by said air chamber and including a load-supporting sidewall extended downwardly in protective relation with said air chamber, said load-supporting sidewall including a lower edge normally spaced from said base means when said chamber is normally inflated and supportedly engaged by said base means upon deflation of said air chamber; an air controller including an upper member mounted on said load-supporting sidewall and a lower member mounted on said base top wall and provided with first and second ports, said first port being connected to said air chamber, said ports connecting within said air controller; and means within said air controller responsive to the vertical position of the load-supporting means to bleed air continuously from the system to vary the admission and release of air to the air chamber to maintain a constant level of the load-supporting means with respect to the base means.
 4. A vibration isolation mount comprising, in combination, a base means; an inflatable air chamber supported on said base means; load-supporting means supported by said air chamber and including a load-supporting sidewall extended downwardly in protective relation with said air chamber, and an air controller including an upper member mounted on said load-supporting sidewall and a lower member mounted on said base means and provided with first and second ports, said first port being connected to said air chamber, said ports connecting within said air controller; and means within said air controller responsive to the vertical position of the load-supporting means to bleed air continuously from the system to vary the admission and release of air to the air chamber to maintain a constant level of the load-supporting means with respect to the base means and damping means operative between said chamber sidewall and said load-supporting sidewall.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said load-supporting sidewall includes a lower edge normally spaced from said base means when said chamber is normally inflated and supportedly engaged by said base means upon deflation of said air chamber.
 6. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said damping means comprises a vertically extending guide disposed between said sidewalls.
 7. A vibration isolation mount comprising, in combination, a base means; an inflatable air chamber supported on said base means; load-supporting means supported by said air chamber and including a load-supporting sidewall extended downwardly in protective relation with said air chamber, said load-supporting sidewall including a lower edge normally spaced from said base means when said chamber is normally inflated and supportedly engaged by said base means upon deflation of said air chamber; an Air controller including an upper member mounted on said load-supporting sidewall and a lower member mounted on said base means and provided with first and second ports, said first port being connected to a source of air pressure and said second port being connected to said air chamber, said ports communicating within said air controller and means within said air controller responsive to the vertical position of the load-supporting means to bleed air continuously from the system to vary the admission and release of air to the air chamber to maintain a constant level of the load-supporting means with respect to the base means; and damping means operative between said chamber sidewall and said load-supporting sidewall.
 8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said damping means comprises a vertically extending guide disposed between said sidewalls.
 9. A vibration isolation mount comprising, in combination, base means; an inflatable air chamber supported on said base means; load-supporting means supported by said air chamber and including a load-supporting sidewall extended downwardly in protective relationship with said air chamber and engageable with said base means upon deflation of said air chamber; an air controller communicating with said air chamber and mounted on one of said means and operatively associated with the other of said means; means for supplying air continuously to the air controller; and means including an air control member within the air controller to bleed air continuously from the system at a variable rate responsive to the vertical position of the load-supporting means, said air control member being movably mounted whereby upon leakage-imposed engagement of the sidewall with said base means said air control member will move to a fail-safe position.
 10. A vibration isolation mount comprising, in combination, base means; an inflatable air chamber supported on said base means; load-supporting means supported by said air chamber; an air controller communicating with said air chamber and mounted on one of said means and operatively associated with the other of said means; means for continuously supplying air to the air controller and means within said air controller to bleed air continuously from the system at a variable rate responsive to the vertical position of the load-supporting means including confronting air releasing members which are normally biased away from physical contact by the flow of air bleeding from the system. 